08.15.06
Lindsay Crouch
Langley Research Center, Va.
757-864-3189, 757-870-6912 (mobile)
RELEASE: 06-059A
SOUTH CAROLINA TEACHERS PLAY ROLE OF STUDENTS AT NASA
For one week in June, 14 elementary and middle school teachers and
administrators traveled to NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton,
Va., to take their turn as students again.
Kappy Cannon, Tammy Lundy, Elizabeth Padget, Brenda Richards and
Paulette Williams of Forest Lake Elementary Technology Magnet School,
in Columbia, S.C., spent the week of June 19 learning about NASA and
how to incorporate NASA technology in their classrooms. They toured
NASA Langley's facilities, including model shops, laboratories and a
wind tunnel. They also participated in team-building activities to
take back to their school.
"Being able to physically see and visit some of the places where
history has been made brings about such a feeling of pride and
patriotism," said Cannon, principal, Forest Lake Elementary.
The NASA Explorer School (NES) program is sponsored by NASA to help
educators and students join NASA's mission of discovery through
educational activities and special learning opportunities tailored to
promote science, mathematics and technology applications and career
explorations.
"I had no idea that there were so many exceptional resources
available," said Padget, media specialist, Forest Lake Elementary. "I
can't wait to work with the students and teachers, using the
resources and activities now available to us!"
Forest Lake Elementary School was announced as one of NASA's 2006
Explorer Schools in May. They will be starting the NES program this
fall and will continue the partnership for the next three years.
"We wanted to broaden our students' awareness of space, exploration
and careers in science and technology," said Richards, curriculum
resource teacher, Forest Lake Elementary. "We also wanted to expand
our teachers' base of resources through this program."
The theme for the one-week workshop revolved around the vision for
NASA -- exploring the moon, Mars and beyond -- and also highlighted
NASA Langley's key role in aeronautics and space. Workshop attendees
participated in team-building activities to plan their role in the
NES program and learned about the numerous resources available. They
also spent time designing a three-year strategic plan for
incorporating NASA technology into their school curriculum.
"I am excited to be able to incorporate all of the vast resources of
NASA into my lessons," said Lundy, science and technology teacher at
Forest Lake Elementary. "Adding such an array of knowledge will
increase student participation."
Throughout the next three years, students in the NES program will
participate in digital conferences with scientists and engineers at
NASA. Educators will also take the hands-on activities they
participated in during their workshop back to their students to
provide exciting learning experiences in the science, math and
technology fields.
"Having this NES experience and the opportunity to share the wonder of
NASA with our students -- the next generation -- is a real
responsibility and honor," said Williams, instructional technology
specialist, Forest Lake Elementary. "Until this week, I had forgotten
some of the wonder I felt when Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon. I
want my personal children, as well as my students, to feel that sense
of wonder!"
To learn more about the NES program, please visit:
http://explorerschools.nasa.gov
For information about NASA research and exploration, visit:
www.nasa.gov
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